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Greensboro, N.C. -- The Powerball jackpot prize continues to grow as people flock to stores to purchase a ticket that could change their life forever. As of about 4:00 p.m., the jackpot had climbed to $550 million.

Powerball player John Joyce bought his ticket early on Wednesday. "What in the world would I do with 500 million dollars? If I only had $100,000, I'd be happy," he said.

At Murphy Express in Greensboro, extra clerks will be working Wednesday night to handle the demand. 42 states are participating in the game. People are buying about 100,000 tickets every minute. The odds of winning are 1 in 175 million, but that figure is not stopping people from playing.

"You'd probably have to bury me with it if I won it. I would probably die of a heart attack-to be honest with you," Brenda Billups said.

Sam White added, "The way the United States is right now, it's kind of scary to invest. I may hide it under my mattress somewhere if I win."

Angus Meachum told WFMY News 2, "First thing I would do is just sit there to myself and say, 'It didn't happen. It really didn't happen.' I would be shocked."